Speeding Tickets

When you’re going over the speed limit, you always run the risk of getting pulled over and receiving a speeding ticket. If the officer who pulls you over informs you that court is required for your ticket, that may or may not be correct. Each situation is different and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. There are some speeding infractions that are quite serious, requiring court. There are others that are minor and don’t require a court, though you can choose to go before a judge if you’d like to fight the ticket.

Serious Cases Requiring Court

If your speeding ticket is accompanied by criminal charges, you’ll most likely have to appear before a court. This could include offenses such as DUI, driving on a suspended license, reckless endangerment, and other similar issues. Instead of paying for your ticket, you’d go to court to try and fight your way out of a serious consequence.

It’s important you have a lawyer by your side during this situation. He or she will know what to do to try and get the charges dropped or the punishment lessened. Some punishments include jail time, community service, and large fines.

Minor Speeding Cases That Don’t Require Court

If you were going five miles per hour over the speed limit, chances are your fine won’t be too high. You might have a $100 ticket, and it could be easy to just pay it and move on without having to go to court. Many tickets actually state on the bottom that your offense doesn’t require a court appearance.

You can choose to go to court in these types of situations. However, if you have already received and paid multiple traffic tickets, this one final ticket could mean an insurance premium hike or a license suspension. While paying the ticket might only cost $100, and hiring a lawyer would cost $150 or more, it could end up paying off, in the end, to fight it, supposing you win.

Contact a Lawyer for Assistance

Any time you receive a traffic ticket, it’s important you speak with someone who can explain the details. You might think the ticket is minor, when in fact it’s quite serious; or you might worry it’s serious when it’s not really too bad. A  lawyer can help you understand the severity of your offense, as well as what you can do to move past it. Contact a traffic violation lawyer today from a firm like May Law, LLP for assistance.